1) Toss Up - Physics - Multiple Choice
Of the nine known planets in our solar system, the innermost is Mercury. When compared to the other planets in the system, Mercury has the:
W) greatest centripetal acceleration
X) greatest period of revolution
Y) smallest angular velocity
Z) smallest tangential velocity
1) Bonus - Physics - Multiple Choice
The maximum value for the displacement of a harmonic oscillator is called the
W) frequency
X) period
Y) wavelength
Z) amplitude
2) Toss Up - Physics - Multiple Choice
In Planck’s equation E = hv, (pronounced: E equals h new), h represents which of the following:
W) photon energy in joules
X) photon speed in kilometers per second
Y) Planck’s constant
Z) the quantum energy of a single electron
2) Bonus - Physics - Multiple Choice
Which of the following types of materials make the best high-
temperature superconductors:
W) metals
X) non-metals
Y) gasses
Z) transuranics
3) Toss Up - Physics - Short Answer
A high-energy photon collides with an electron and is absorbed. The electron then emits a photon in a new direction with a slightly different wavelength. What is this difference in wavelength called?
ANSWER: COMPTON SHIFT3) Bonus - Physics - Short Answer
In the low-energy limit of Compton Scattering, if a 500 nm photon is absorbed by an electron approximately what wavelength photon will be emitted?
ANSWER: 500 NM4) Toss Up - Physics - Multiple Choice
Which of the following will INCREASE the current from a solar panel?
W) Using a lead acid cell in series with the solar cells
X) Using a wet cell in series with the solar cells
Y) Connecting the solar cells in series
Z) Connecting the solar cells in parallel
4) Bonus - Physics - Short Answer
Given a DC circuit with a voltage source delivering 20 volts and a circuit resistance of 5 kiloohms, what is the value of the current in amperes?
ANSWER: 0.0045) Toss Up - Chemistry - Multiple Choice
The number of degrees of freedom of a triatomic molecule is:
W) 1
X) 3
Y) 6
Z) 9
5) Bonus - Chemistry - Short Answer
The internal energy of an ideal gas depends on which of the following: temperature, pressure, volume.
ANSWER: Temperature6) Toss Up - Physics - Multiple Choice
Which of the following is measured in Hertz?
W) speed
X) frequency
Y) wavelength
Z) amplitude
6) Bonus - Physics - Short Answer
For projectiles fired at identical speeds but various angles from the ground, neglecting air resistance and the curvature of the Earth, at what angle will the maximum horizontal distance be attained?
ANSWER: 45 DEGREES (ACCEPT: p /4)7) Toss Up - Physics - Multiple Choice
To experimentally measure the voltage drop of a current load, how is a voltmeter applied?
W) in parallel with the load with a high resistance
X) in parallel with the load with a low resistance
Y) in series with the load with a high resistance
Z) in series with the load with a low resistance
7) Bonus - Physics - Short Answer
When two tones of nearly identical frequencies are played together, what pulsating sound arises from interference between the two waves?
ANSWER: BEATS8) Toss Up - Astronomy - Short Answer
What basic force is responsible for forming the liquid-metallic hydrogen layer on the planet Jupiter?
ANSWER: GRAVITY8) Bonus - Astronomy - Short Answer
During what month is the average surface temperature of the Earth typically the highest?
ANSWER: JULY9) Toss Up - General Science - Short Answer
What is the term for the layer within the stratosphere where most of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation is absorbed?
ANSWER: OZONE LAYER9) Bonus - General Science - Short Answer
What is the term used to describe the stage of certain insects such as dragonflies and grasshoppers where the juvenile resembles the adult except that wings and reproductive organs are undeveloped?
ANSWER: NYMPH10) Toss Up - Biology - Multiple Choice
According to the 3 domain system of classification with the 3 domains being, Archaea, Bacteria and Eukarya, which of the following would be LEAST likely to belong to the domain Bacteria:
W) chlamydia
X) spirochetes (read as: spy-row-keets)
Y) gram positive bacteria
Z) non-nucleated thermophiles
10) Bonus - Biology - Multiple Choice
In which of the following does the RUBISCO enzyme play a central role:
W) Photosystem One
X) Electron Transport
Y) Photosystem Two
Z) Calvin Cycle
11) Toss Up - Earth And Space - Multiple Choice
Which of the following minerals is NOT typically found in the rock granite?
W) Olivine
X) Plagioclase [PLAY-jee-uh-kays]
Y) Quartz
Z) Hornblende
11) Bonus - Earth And Space - Multiple Choice
If two black holes orbit one another at a distance of a few Schwarzschild radii [RAY-dee-eye], their orbits will slowly shrink until they merge. By which of the following processes does this occur?
W) Dynamic friction
X) Gravitational radiation
Y) Third-body interactions
Z) Drag from the accretion disks
12) Toss Up - Astronomy - Multiple Choice
Which of the following best describes the hydrogen spectral line strength for an A-type star of about 3 solar masses:
W) missing
X) weak
Y) medium
Z) strong
12) Bonus - Astronomy - Multiple Choice
Which of the following BEST describes the zenith:
W) the point in the sky that is at 180 degrees of inclination to the horizon
X) 90 degrees opposite to the nadir
Y) the opposite position on the ecliptic to an observer
Z) the point on the celestial sphere directly overhead of an observer
13) Toss Up - Math - Multiple Choice
An identity matrix is a square matrix in which
W) every entry is 1
X) all entries on the main diagonal are 1
Y) all entries below the diagonal are 1
Z) all entries on the diagonal are 1 and all other entries are 0
13) Bonus - Math - Multiple Choice
Find the positive x-intercept of the ellipse `4x^2 + 9y^2 = 36`
W) 3
X) 6
Y) 9
Z) 2
14) Toss Up - Chemistry - Short Answer
How many carbon and hydrogen atoms are in a cyclopentane molecule?
ANSWER: CARBON = 5; HYDROGEN = 1014) Bonus - Chemistry - Short Answer
What is the systematic IUPAC name for the following acid: HClO
ANSWER: HYPOCHLOROUS ACID15) Toss Up - Physics - Short Answer
Which element has the simplest absorption spectrum?
ANSWER: HYDROGEN15) Bonus - Physics - Multiple Choice
Pitch is a function of frequency as loudness is a function of:
W) wavelength
X) tone
Y) pitch
Z) amplitude
16) Toss Up - Physics - Short Answer
Which principle in quantum mechanics says that no two electrons in an atom can ever be in the same quantum state?
ANSWER: PAULI EXCLUSION PRINCIPLE16) Bonus - Physics - Short Answer
What is the name for a device that transforms almost all AC into DC for the full cycle?
ANSWER: FULL-WAVE RECTIFIER17) Toss Up - Biology - Multiple Choice
Which of the following pairs includes a toothed whale and a baleen whale?
W) Bowhead whale and blue whale
X) Grey whale and beluga whale
Y) Sperm whale and narwhal
z) Northern right whale and minke
17) Bonus - Biology - Multiple Choice
At a 4th of July picnic, Uncle Vernon was munching down on his ear of yellow corn when he exclaimed, "Why do some of these corn kernels have purple spots? Is the corn toxic?” You quickly explain that the corn is not toxic and that the spots were caused by what?
W) Transcription start variation
X) Transposition of a jumping gene y) Random X-inactivation
Z) Genetic modifications
18) Toss Up - Biology - Multiple Choice
Human skin pigmentation and height may vary greatly and are probably controlled by multiple genes. This is an example most specifically of:
W) pleiotropy
X) polygenic inheritance
Y) epistasis (read as: ep-ee-STAY-sis)
Z) incomplete codominance
18) Bonus - Biology - Multiple Choice
There are more possible antibodies to antigens than there are genes that code for these antibodies in the human genome. Which of the following BEST accounts for this:
W) genes mutate constantly in B cells
X) genes for antibodies are spliced together from different chromosomal loci
Y) antibodies have large amounts of cross reactivity with various antigens
Z) antibodies are only specific for certain parts of an antigen
19) Toss Up - Physics - Multiple Choice
Which of the following is a device that detects charged particles
but does NOT show their tracks?
W) spark chamber
X) photographic plate
Y) scintillation counter
Z) bubble chamber
19) Bonus - Physics - Multiple Choice
The photomultiplier tube in the scintillation counter multiplies
which of the following?
W) scintillations
X) electrons
Y) ions
Z) photons
20) Toss Up - Biology - Short Answer
In evolutionary biology, one theory, phyletic gradualism, proposes that speciation occurs slowly over time while another proposes that speciation occurs in rare, rapid events. Name the latter theory.
ANSWER: PUNCTUATED EQUILIBRIUM20) Bonus - Biology - Short Answer
Name the two main processes which determine whether genetic variations will become common or rare in a population.
ANSWER: NATURAL SELECTION AND GENETIC DRIFT (ACCEPT: NATURAL SELECTION AND SEWALL-WRIGHT EFFECT)21) Toss Up - Chemistry - Multiple Choice
Which of the following polymers is the first man-made polymer:
W) nylon
X) Teflon
Y) bakelite
Z) celluloid
21) Bonus - Chemistry - Short Answer
The change in enthalpy, AH, (read as: delta H), is to a calorimeter as the change in internal energy, AE, (read as: delta E), is to what?
ANSWER: BOMB CALORIMETER22) Toss Up - Math - Short Answer
What is the ratio of the circumradius of a 3-4-5 triangle and its inradius?
ANSWER: 5/222) Bonus - Math - Multiple Choice
Which of the following best describes the shape of the curve described by the equation r=0.2 + cos(theta)?
W) A circle
X) A limacon with a loop
Y) A cardioid
Z) A limacon with a dimple
23) Toss Up - Chemistry - Multiple Choice
Which of the following is NOT a strong acid?
W) Hydrochloric Acid
X) Phosphoric Acid
Y) Sulfuric Acid
Z) Perchloric Acid
23) Bonus - Chemistry - Multiple Choice
According to the Br0nsted-Lowry acid-base theory, which of the following species cannot function as an acid?
W) Water
X) Hydrogen carbonate ion
Y) Phosphate
Z) Hydroxide
24) Toss Up - General Science - Multiple Choice
One metal dissolved in another is called
W) an alloy.
X) an assay.
Y) a mineral.
Z) a ceramic.
24) Bonus - General Science - Multiple Choice
Which of the following trees is known to live longer than the Giant
Sequoia?
W) Grey Oak
X) Japanese Chestnut
Y) Bristlecone pine
Z) Ponderosa pine
25) Toss Up - Astronomy - Multiple Choice
A planet in retrograde motion
W) rises in the west and sets in the east
X) shifts westward with respect to the stars
Y) shifts eastward with respect to the stars
Z) will be at the north celestial pole
25) Bonus - Astronomy - Multiple Choice
Scientists think the Earth's core is composed mainly of
W) silicate rocks
X) uranium
Y) lead
Z) iron